AMERICAN BOARD OF PHYSICAL THERAPY SPECIALITIES:
ENHANCING PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT THROUGH
CERTIFICATION
The Path to Clinical Excellence
Clinical Excellence: Necessities
Multidimensional
Patient-centered
Knowledge
Collaborative
Clinical
Reasoning with patientReflective
Practice
Philosophy
of PT
Practice
Primary focus;
Centered on
function
Movement
Jensen GM et al (2000) Phys Ther 80(1):28 – 43.
Virtues
Caring,
Commitment
Ethical
Practice
Clinical Excellence:
The Common Path
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Entry level graduation
Years of experience
Continuing education
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Accountability
Competency
Post –professional residency
Specialization
Post-professional degrees
OBJECTIVES
Upon completion of this presentation, you'll be able to:
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Understand the Specialty Certification process
Understand the ABPTS certification and maintenance of
specialty certification program
Describe the process for certification and maintenance of
specialty certification
Describe the minimum eligibility requirements for
certification and recertification for specialization
List the current areas of Areas of Specialty Practice
Describe the role of clinical residencies in the certification
process
Identify top motivations to pursue ABPTS Specialty
certification
What is Clinical Specialty Certification?
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Specialization is a process for physical therapist
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Established to provide formal recognition for physical
therapists with advanced clinical knowledge, experience,
and skills in a special area of practice
Professional education and development
Clinical Expertise in specific areas of practice
Clinical specialization responds to a specific area
of patient need
Assist consumers and the health care community
in identifying physical therapists who are
specialists in a unique area of practice
Physical Therapy Specialist
Certification
Recognizing
Clinical Excellence
What does Clinical Specialization
Require?

Broad based foundation of
physical therapy education
and clinical practice
Combined with…
 Depth and breadth of
knowledge in specialty
area
Knowledge
What does Clinical Specialization
Require?
Advanced clinical
expertise, skills, and
experience unique to
a specialized practice
area
 Expertise in clinical
reasoning applied to
specialty practice area
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Knowledge
How does our profession recognize
advanced knowledge & clinical expertise?
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Clinicians who have specialized area of practice
and seek professional recognition and
advancement
Engage in rigorous process for Board Specialty
Certification
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Application criteria and standards
Board examination
Maintenance of specialty certification
Process overseen by American Board of
Physical Therapy Specialties (ABPTS)
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Specialty Councils
Purposes of Board Certification
 Promote
highest possible level of
physical therapy care
 Promote
ongoing development of
science and art underlying each
specialty practice
Purposes of Board Certification
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Recognize specialists through a
reliable and valid method for
certification of specialty practitioners
Identify for the consumers and the
health care community physical
therapists who are specialists in a
unique area of practice
Important Elements of Board
Certification
 Voluntary
 Unrestrictive
 Coordinated
Areas of Specialty Practice
Recognized through Board Certification
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
Cardiovascular & Pulmonary
Clinical Electrophysiologic
Geriatrics
Orthopaedics
Pediatrics
Neurology
Sports
Women’s Health
Minimum Eligibility Requirements for
Clinical Specialization Certification

Current license to practice physical therapy
in the United States, the District of Columbia,
Puerto Rico, or the Virgin Islands
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Practice eligibility requirement is 2,000 hours
minimum of direct patient care in the
specialty area, 25% (500) of which must have
occurred in the last 3 years.
Minimum Eligibility Requirements
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Direct patient care
 must include activities in each of
the elements of patient/client
management applicable to the
specialty area and included in the
Description of Specialty Practice
Minimum Eligibility Requirements

Practice elements of
patient/client
management as defined
in the Guide to Physical
Therapist Practice
 Examination
 Evaluation
 Diagnosis
 Prognosis
 Intervention
Minimum Eligibility Requirements
 Other
requirements specific to
the specialty such as:
 Emergency
care certification
 ACLS certification
 Patient reports
 Case reflections
Other Options to Meet the Eligibility
Requirements for Specialty Certification
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Clinical Residency
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A planned program of post-professional clinical
and didactic education that is designed to
advance significantly the physical
therapist's preparation as a provider of patient
care services in a defined area of clinical practice
Specialty councils may allow completion of an
APTA-credentialed clinical residency to replace all
or a portion of the practice eligibility
requirements
Assessment
Board Examination
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The Specialty Councils of
ABPTS develop the specialist
certification examinations
Specialists must pass a
rigorous examination that
tests the application of
advanced knowledge and
clinical skills
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In conjunction with the
National Board of Medical
Examiners
Criterion referenced exam
Another exam!!!
Assessment of Specialty Practice & Expertise
Components of the Examination
Patient Care
 Teaching
 Administration
 Consultation
 Communication
 Interpretation of Research
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How are advanced clinical knowledge and skills
determined for Board Certification?
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Description of
Specialty Practice
(DSP)
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Describes the
advanced knowledge,
skills, and abilities for
clinical practice in the
specialty area
Reliable and valid
process for assessing
expertise domain and
current standards of
specialty practice
Description of Specialty
Practice (DSP)
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Based on data from an
extensive practice
analysis research study
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Conducted by Specialty
Councils and ABPTS
Document from which
the certification exam is
developed
Professional Development Path Toward
Clinical Specialization
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Clinical experience in
specialty area
Seek mentor
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Board certified specialist
Professional
development
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Knowledge and skills
Continuing Education
Post professional clinical
residency
Post professional education
How to Prepare for the Board
Certification?
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Resources
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Description of Specialty Practice
Resources available from APTA sections
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Recommended textbooks
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Reading lists
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Advanced Clinical Practice Courses
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Study Groups
***ABPTS does not approve or review
material or course content
Specialist Certification Application
Process
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Application
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APTA Professional Development office
Deadline:
July of the preceding year
 To sit for the 2012 exam, applications must
be postmarked by July 31, 2011
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Each application undergoes a review to
evaluate eligibility of the applicant to sit
for board examination
Specialty Certification Fees
APTA member
Non-member
Applicant Review
$500
$845
Examination
$800
$1,525
$1,300
$2,370
Total
Certification is valid for ten years with
no maintenance fees
When is the certification exam
administered?
 Exams
are offered once per year
for a two-week exam period
 Candidates may sit for the exam
between February-March
2011– February 26–March 12, 2011
● 2012●
Examination Format
Computerized
examinations,
administered at
Prometric, Inc.
testing centers
 FORMAT: Multiple
choice questions
including case
scenarios, videos,
pictures
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Recognition of Certified
Clinical Specialists
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Recognized at Opening Ceremony of APTA
Combined Sections Meeting (CSM)
Recognized by sections and chapters
Inclusion in online Directory of Certified
Specialists
Only individuals who have successfully
completed the ABPTS certification process
may use the term “Board-Certified Clinical
Specialist”
Board-Certified Clinical SpecialistCertified Specialist Initials
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CCS - Cardiovascular & Pulmonary Certified
Specialist
ECS - Electrophysiologic Certified Specialist
GCS - Geriatric Certified Specialist
NCS - Neurologic Certified Specialist
OCS - Orthopaedic Certified Specialist
PCS - Pediatric Certified Specialist
SCS - Sports Certified Specialist
WCS - Women’s Health Certified Specialist
Board-Certified Clinical
Specialists
Who Are They?
Total Numbers of Certified Specialists
Total 2010- 10,348 individuals
by Year
700
600
500
400
300
200
100
0
1985
1988
1991
1994
1997
2000
2003
2006
2009
Total Numbers of Certified
Specialists by Area
1%
1.5%
1.5%
Wmen's 82
Electro 146
Cardio 148
Neuro 841
Sports 854
Peds 1011
Geri 1109
Ortho 6157
8%
8%
10%
59%
11%
Age - Certified Clinical Specialists
50 and over
Age 40-49
Age 30-39
Under 30
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
Gender - Certified Clinical
Specialists
Female
46%
54%
Male
Top 3 Work Settings:
Certified Clinical Specialists
 Private
PT Office
 Health system or hospital-based
outpatient facility or clinic
 Academic Institution
Top 4 Positions held by Certified
Clinical Specialists
 Supervisor/Director
 Staff
of PT
or Senior PT
 Sole Owner/Partner PT Practice
 Academic Faculty
Why do physical therapists become
Board Certified Clinical Specialists?
Top Motivations to Pursue
ABPTS Certification
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Proof of expertise in
specialty area
Personal challenge or
achievement
Professional career
goal
Earn a credential that
reflects advanced
practice to patients,
physicians, & payers
Source: Survey of certified specialists (2007)
What is the impact of the board
certification process on the specialists?
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Specialists report that board
certification has had a positive
impact on . . .
Sense of personal achievement
 Self-confidence & professional growth
 Patient care, including better outcomes
 Increased credibility with patients &
referral sources
 Recognition in clinical, academic and
community settings
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Sources: Survey of certified specialists (2007)
How has board specialty certification
influenced specialists careers?
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Opened doors for professional growth
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Consultations
Invited Presentations
New job opportunities
Leadership & service
Teaching opportunities
Research collaboration
Networking
Do employers support the certification
process?
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Employer Support of ABPTS Certification
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48% of employers pay at least some of the costs
associated with obtaining clinical specialization.
Of these employers, 64% indicate that they
subsidize all the costs of obtaining specialist
certification
Value expertise of specialist
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High patient care standards
Serve as mentors for others
Provide team leadership
Source: Survey of candidates (2007)
Value of ABPTS Certification
to Certified Specialists
79% report that certification is a
indicator of clinical competence
 90% report that certification is an
indicator of depth and breadth of
knowledge in an area of specialty
practice
 High rate (68%) of specialist choose to
recertify
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Source: Survey of certified specialists (2007)
Is there a Renewal Process for the
Specialty Certification ?
Yes!!
 What is the process?
 Maintenance of Specialty
Certification
 Currency of clinical practice and
expertise in the specialty
 Currency of advanced knowledge
and skills in the specialty
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Maintenance of Specialty
Certification Process
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Initial Certification is valid for 10 years.
To maintain the credential, a specialist must
meet the requirements of maintenance of
certification before his or her certificate expires
ABPTS has developed process for assessing
currency and recertification standards
Ensures to the public the validity of advanced
skills and expertise of the specialist
Purpose of Maintenance of Specialty
Certification
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To verify current competence as an
advanced practitioner in the specialty
area
Evaluation of professional
development and clinical experience
To encourage ongoing education and
professional growth
Maintenance of Specialty Certification
Requirements
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Direct patient care hours in specialty (2000 hr)
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Professional Development Portfolio (PDP)
OR
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Current written examination
FUTURE MODEL
Maintenance of Specialty Competency
 Continued Competency Process in
development
Professional Development Portfolio
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Documentation of professional development
activities and advanced clinical practice related to
specialty practice since initial certification
Examples:
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Continuing Education courses
Clinical Supervision
College/University courses
Teaching continuing education or college courses
Research presentations (platform or poster)
Presentations to professional groups, classes, or in-services
Presentations to community or client-based groups
Author or editor of book chapters, journal articles, grant
proposals
Committee membership in professional organization
Consultation
Board Certified Clinical Specialists
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Professionals with clinical expertise
Advancing our profession
Making a difference in lives of our
patients
CCS, ECS, GCS, NCS, OCS, PCS, SCS, WCS
For more information contact
APTA
Residency/Fellowship & Specialist
Certification Department
1111 North Fairfax Street
Alexandria, VA 22314
800/999-2782, ext 8520
http://www.apta.org/specialist_certification
Literature about Specialization or
Specialists
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Bryan J, Blake A. How do other health care professionals view
specialist certification? PT Magazine. 2004;12(9):54-57.
Bryan J, Gill-Body K, Blake A. How employers view specialist
certification. PT Magazine. 2003;11(1):50-51.
Thompson M. The role of higher education in the career paths
of board-certified clinical specialists in geriatric physical
therapy: implications for professional and post professional
education. J Phys Ther Educ. 2001;15(2):10-16.
Literature about Specialization or
Specialists
Hart DL, Dobrzykowski EZ. Influence of orthopaedic clinical
specialist certification on clinical outcomes
J Orthop Sports Phys Ther. 2000;30(4):183-193
 Milidonis MK, Godges JJ, Jensen GM. Nature of clinical
practice for specialists in orthopaedic physical therapy.
J Orthop Sports Phys Ther. 1999;29(4):240-247
 Ellison J, Becker M, Nelson AJ. Attitudes of physical
therapists who possess sports specialist certification.
J Orthop Sports Phys Ther. 1997;25(6):400-406
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Literature about Specialization or
Specialists
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Smith LC. The decision to specialize. 2001;9(6):52-59
Edmonds MM. What if? PT Magazine. 1999;7(4):44-49
Wynn KE. Why recertify? PT Magazine. 1996;4(11):68-70
Williams DO. Answering the bell: PTs & school sports.
PT Magazine. 1996;4(12):36-39
Woods EN. What’s so special about specialist certification?
PT Magazine. 1994;2(2):46-51
Ferrier MPB. One stage in professional evolution.
Clinical Management. 1991;11(2):66-70